Elmbridge

Elmbridge's population increased by about 8,900 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 130,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Elmbridge increased by 7.3%, from almost 122,000 to 131,000.

The addition of just over 8,900 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Elmbridge was home to, on average, 9.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Elmbridge

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Elmbridge increased by one year, from 39 to 40 years.

This area had a slightly higher average age than the South East and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 3,900 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 2,000.

About 17.0% of people in Elmbridge are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Elmbridge by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Elmbridge

Elmbridge saw the South East's second-largest fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 1 in 15 (6.6%) in Elmbridge reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 7.3% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 1.8% to 2.3%.

Across the region, only Slough saw a greater fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability (from 5.8% to 5.0%).

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More homes with children

Elmbridge saw the South East's second-largest rise in the proportion of households with children.

In 2011, just over one in three (33.4%) households in Elmbridge had at least one dependent child, compared with 30.8% in 2001. The percentage with no children decreased from 60.6% to 57.9%.

Across the region, only Slough saw a greater rise in the proportion of households with children (from 33.9% to 39.2%).

During this period, Elmbridge overtook 19 local authority areas, including Tonbridge and Malling and Ashford, to become the South East local authority area with the fourth-highest percentage of households with children.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Relationships in Elmbridge

The percentage of married people changed very little in Elmbridge, while the proportion fell in Epsom and Ewell (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Elmbridge).

In Elmbridge, the proportion of married people stayed close to 55.3% between the last two censuses. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Epsom and Ewell decreased from 55.8% to 53.1%.

Across the South East, the share of married people decreased from 52.8% to 49.3%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Elmbridge increased from 26.4% to 27.5%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.9% to 10.5%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

Long hour working fell in Elmbridge, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South East, except Dover and Ashford.

Every local authority area across the South East saw a fall in the proportion of people working long hours, as the regional average fell from 14.3% to 11.2%.

Across the South East, the proportion of people working long hours fell from 14.3% to 11.2% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in nearby Epsom and Ewell fell from 14.0% to 11.5%.

Long hour working was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Elmbridge

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Elmbridge was among those who said they had no religion, rising 9.5 points.

In 2011, 25.3% of respondents in Elmbridge gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 15.8% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.9% to 30.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Elmbridge, 69.4% said they were Christian, compared with 80.0% in 2001. About 0.4% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.2% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion increased from 7.5% to 8.1%.

In Elmbridge, 7.5% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.0% in 2001. In South East, 7.4% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Elmbridge increased by 8.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and Elmbridge by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Elmbridge that rented privately increased from 10.2% to 15.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 10.3%, while the percentage of Elmbridge households that owned their home decreased from 77.3% to 73.1%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10.2% in 2001 to 16.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Elmbridge increased by 5 percentage points

Percentage of households in Elmbridge, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Elmbridge residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.7% to 3.1% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (87.4%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 76.2% in 2001. The percentage of Elmbridge residents that described their health as fair decreased from 18.1% to 9.4%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Elmbridge decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Elmbridge, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Elmbridge

In 2011, 5.4% of Elmbridge residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from from 2.9% in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 2.6% to 5.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 90.3% of people in Elmbridge said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 94.0% in 2001. About 2.6% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 1.7% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Other ethnic groups (Arab or any other ethnic group) decreased from 1.0% to 1.0%.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Elmbridge increased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Elmbridge by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Elmbridge residents that were unemployed increased from 2.0% to 2.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in two (53.7%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 53.3% in 2001. The percentage of Elmbridge residents that were self-employed increased from 12.8% to 14.7%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Elmbridge, which comprised a single parent, increased from 7.3% to 7.7% between the last two censuses.

The percentage that had a married couple remained close to 40.7%, while the percentage of households in Elmbridge, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.7% to 8.8%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.0% in 2001 to 9.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 10.7%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Elmbridge residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.2% to 1.4% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.6%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 1.7% in 2001 to 2.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Elmbridge remained close to 1.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Elmbridge by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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